Toothpick.



'PATENTED Am 14, 1901.` J. E. HILLS.

TOOTHPIGK.

APPLICATION FILED APE. 14, 1902. 4N0 MODEL.

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y Marten @fracties Fatrnnr'r 'prima JAMES EDWIN HILLS,4 OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TOOTHPICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,081, dated April 14, 1903.

Application filed April 14, 1902. Serial No. 102,822. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t nur/y concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES EDWIN HiLLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the countyof New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toothpicks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the gures of reference marked thereon, which form. a part of this specication.

My invention relates to toothpicks; and the objects of the same are to provide a toothpick embodying the following functions and characteristics: elasticity, tenacity, durability, convenience in shape, variability in thickness to serve in removing particles wedged between teeth having little space between them, roughened surfaces to dislodge substances by drawing the pick between the teeth, to provide a fiat thin toothpick having a serrated edge or edges to remove obstinate substances from between the teeth by drawing the toothpick outward between the teeth, to provide desirable space on the sides of the toothpick for advertising purposes, to produce a toothpick from flat sheet material of the required qualities in order that the same may be out out in the form of some article to be advertised and at the same time to be of a desirable shape to perform its function as a toothpick, to occupy but little space in the pocket or pocket-book, to be neat and attractive in appearance, and which may be produced at a slight cost.

Elasticity and tenacity are very desirable qualities in toothpicks, and the ordinary wooden toothpicks in common use are almost totally devoid of these qualities, as they usually splinter and break when used, often leaving a very troublesome splinter between the teeth. A transparent toothpick is desirable, for the reason that it maybe used without being seen. Celluloid has been found to be desirable as a material from which to manufacture toothpicks, owing to its inherent elasticity and tenacity and owing to the fact that it may be transparent, attractive in color and of any required thickness. A iiat toothpick made of thin celluloid may be drawn between teeth which are set so closely together that dental silk would fail to dislodge a particle wedged between them, and such a thin toothpick may be used with one hand only, while the use of dental silk requires both hands to properly manipulate it. A. roughened surface or a serrated edge formed on a dat toothpick will sometimes remove a stringy substance from between the teeth which would be very difficult to dislodge with a toothpick of ordinary construction. Celluloid toothpicks may be readily cleansed and will endure much longer than those iu common use.

The foregoing defines some of the advantages of a toothpick made in accordance with my invention; but added to these advantages may be mentioned slight cost and the feature ofa desirable advertising medium.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l illustrates, in side View, a blank from which my toothpick may be formed. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a blank, showing an embossed surface. Fig. 3 is a side view of a blank after the surface has been embossed and the serrations formed in the edge. Fig. t is a perspective view of a toothpick made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a toothpick cut in the shape of a certain article, like a bottle, for advertising purposes. Fig. (Slis a perspective view of a toothpick having its opposite surfaces embossed. Fig. 7 is a similar view of a blank before the surfaces are embossed. Fig. 8 is a like view of the blank having one surface embossed.

In its broadest aspect my present invention contemplates a toothpick cut from a sheet of celluloid or similar material and having an embossed surface and a doubled end. I may out from a sheet of celluloid having one or both sides embossed a toothpick having a serrated edge, and the end may then be doubled over to form a thickened portion for operation between teeth which may have a considerable space between them.

Referring to Fig. l, the numeral l designates a plain piece of Celluloid or similar material of substantially rectangular form and having one of its edges serrated, as at l, Fig. 2 illustrates the blank as cut from a flat piece IOO of celluloid and provided with an embossed surface 2. Fig. 3 illustrates ablank provided with an embossed surface 3n and a serrated edge 3. Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective View of a toothpick cut from a sheet of celluloid provided with embossed surfaces 4a and a serrated edge 4", one end 4 of the blank being doubled over and secured to the body of the toothpick to present a toothpick having four operative edges-viz., a toothpick having a plain operative edge and an opposite serrated edge, the reverse end of the implement having operative edges of greater thickness designed to be used between teeth having a greater space between them. Fig. 5 illustrates a bottle-shape toothpick cut frommaterials having embossed surfaces and one end doubled over upon the body of the pick, as at 5a. Fig. 6 illustrates in perspective view a toothpick having oppositively-embossed surfaces 6 and a doubled-over portion 6a. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate blanks in diifercnt stages of construction. The overlapping or thickened portion of the toothpicks, as shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, may be securely attached to the body of the toothpick, if found desirable, by heating the materials during the process of manufacture until the celluloid becomes slightly adhesive and uniting the two parts by pressure. Other methods may be employed, however.

In using a toothpick made in accordance With my invention the pick is designed to be inserted between the teeth and drawn outward to remove particles lodged between the teeth. The serrated edge will engage and remove ordinary substances lodged between the teeth near the gums. The embossed surfaces not only remove substances from between the teeth, but have a tendency to remove slight stains, like tobacco stains caused from smoking. Where the space between the teeth will admit of it, the thickened end, as shown in Figs. 4 to 8, may be used to advantage, said thickened end serving as a handle or reinforcement when the thinner end of the pick is used.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that a toothpick made in accordance with my invention can be'manufactured at a small cost, can be cut in any shape desired for advertising certain articles of commerce, and is very cleanly, durable, and efficient for its purpose.

Having thus fully described myinvention, whatI desire to obtain by Letters Patent and claim is- I. A toothpick consisting of a flat piece of Celluloid of the required shape and thickness to be drawn between the teeth to dislodge obstinate substances, said toothpick having an integrally embossed or roughened surface, and one end of said toothpick being doubled over to form a thickened end to be used between teeth having considerable space between them, substantially as described.

2. A toothpick consisting of a fiat piece of sheet-Celluloid of rectangular shape and designed to be drawn between the teeth to dislodge obstinate substances, said toothpick having an integrally embossed or roughened surface and a serrated edge, one end of said toothpick being doubled over to form a thickened end designed to be used between teeth having considerable space between them, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aftx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES EDWIN HILLS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS J. DEAGEN, WM. PREsTIN. 

